Cookie consent refers to the process of obtaining permission from users of a website (data subjects) to collect and use their personal data, particularly through cookies. This consent must include information about what data is being collected, how it will be used, and the purpose behind its collection. It is a requirement under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which has been officially enforced for the collection of cookie data.
What is Cookie Consent?
Cookie consent is the permission sought to store cookie files and various information from website users. Cookies are small files that collect personal data from users in different ways when they visit a website. As data controllers, website owners must obtain consent from users in accordance with the PDPA.
Why Do We Need Cookie Consent?
To understand the importance of cookie consent, it's essential to grasp what cookies are. Cookies are small data files that track users' history on websites and downloads. The benefits of cookies include remembering various data points, such as users' locations, preferred languages, and marketing information for targeted advertising. Therefore, cookies serve as a means of storing and utilizing personal data, necessitating website owners to inform users and seek consent for data use.
Cookie consent allows website users, as data subjects, to provide permission for the collection or use of cookies, as well as to specify what data will be collected and for what purposes, ensuring compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).
Types of Cookies That Require Consent
Cookies are broadly categorized into two main types: Necessary Cookies and Non-Necessary Cookies, each protected under the PDPA with different consent requirements.
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Necessary Cookies - No Consent Required
Necessary cookies help the website function effectively. Examples include cookies that remember products in the shopping cart and user details for payment processes. Website owners do not need to request consent for these cookies, but they must inform users about their purpose. -
Non-Necessary Cookies - Consent Required
These cookies are not essential for the website's basic functions and may annoy users. Types include:- Marketing Cookies: Share data with third-party sites to track users.
- Analytical Cookies: Collect and report statistics about website traffic.
- Functional Cookies: Remember user preferences, like login information and language selection.
Consequently, the use or collection of non-necessary cookies requires explicit user consent.
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Consent for New Cookies or Changed Purposes
If new cookies are introduced or if the purpose for using existing cookies changes, the website must inform users of the new purpose and seek consent again, regardless of any prior consent granted by the users.